JP4666041B2 - Image reading system. - Google Patents

Description

The present invention reads an image from the paper medium or the like, regarding images reading system that generates image data based on the read image.

There is known a system that exchanges scanned image data and the like between a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) connected to a LAN and an MFP (multifunctional peripheral device). Patent Document 1 describes a push scan function in which a user directly instructs an MFP to scan, and scan image data generated by the MFP is transmitted to a PC on the LAN.
JP 2005-192022 A

  By the way, when performing the push scan, the user needs to set a paper medium or the like to be scanned in the MFP and perform an operation for starting the push scan on the MFP. For this reason, when performing a push scan, it is predicted that the user is not in the vicinity of the PC that receives the scanned image data. However, conventionally, the PC that has received the scanned image data automatically activates the application and displays the scanned image on the display as it is without the user operating the PC. For this reason, when scanning an image on a paper medium or the like with the push scan function, there is a possibility that the scan image is stolen by a third party through a PC just by looking into the display, and information may be leaked. .

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides a technique for preventing an image read from a paper medium or the like by a push scan function from being stolen by a third party and information leaking. The purpose is to do.

The invention according to claim 1, which is made to achieve the above object, reads an image based on an instruction directly received from a user and generates image data based on the read image, and the image reading device An image reading system having a terminal device for displaying an image based on the generated image data, wherein the image reading device stores a read storage unit that stores the generated image data in an image recording unit, and sends the image data A terminal designating unit for allowing the user to designate a designated terminal device, which is a previous terminal device, a terminal storage unit for storing correspondence data in which the designated terminal device is associated with the image data in a correspondence recording unit, and the designation essential to the terminal device, which receives the information notifying means for notifying the first information on the image data, the request for image data from the designated terminal device The image data stored in the image recording unit on the condition that the request for image data is received by the reception unit and the request reception unit, and the designated terminal device that has received the request by the request reception unit Image transmitting means for transmitting image data associated with the data to the designated terminal device, and the terminal device can display an image on the condition that the information is notified by the information notifying device A display means for notifying the user by displaying the second information not included in the first information notified by the information notification means on the display means, and on the display means according to the notification by the notification means. said second information when it is operated by a user, characterized by including a request transmitting means for transmitting a data request to the image reading apparatus, the in There.

  That is, in the image reading system of the present invention, image data is not transmitted to the terminal device until the image reading device receives a data request based on an operation on the terminal device. Therefore, according to such an image reading apparatus, it is possible to prevent the read image from being seen by a third party and information leaking.

The display means of the terminal device includes a first icon for notifying the user that image data exists in the image recording means, and a first icon for notifying the user that image data does not exist in the image recording means. Any one of the two icons can be displayed, and the notification unit displays the first icon as the second information instead of the second icon when the notification is received by the information notification unit. It may be.

Also, images reader image includes a first erasing means for erasing the image data stored in the image recording unit, to the designated terminal device corresponding to the image data to be erased by the first erase means to be erased An erasure notification means for performing erasure notification of information related to data, and the terminal device stores information related to the image data notified by the information notification means of the image reading apparatus in the information recording means, and the image reading apparatus And a second erasing unit for erasing information relating to the image data received from the erasure notification from information relating to the image data recorded in the information recording unit upon receiving an erasure notice of information relating to the image data to be erased from the information recording unit. May notify the user on the condition that information on at least one image data is recorded in the information recording means.

  According to such an image reading system, when the image reading apparatus deletes the image data, information regarding the image data on the terminal device side can also be deleted. At this time, if at least one piece of information about the image data remains in the terminal device, the notification means can be operated.

  Further, the display unit includes a list display control unit that displays on the display unit a list relating to the image data stored in the image recording unit, and the request transmission unit includes a plurality of image data stored in the image recording unit, When a data request for image data selected by the user from the list displayed on the display means is transmitted to the image reading device, and only one image data is stored in the image recording means, A data request for image data stored in the image recording means may be transmitted to the image reading apparatus without displaying a list.

Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[Configuration of this embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image reading system 1 to which the present invention is applied.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image reading system 1 includes a plurality of scanners 10, 20, 30 (image reading devices) and a plurality of personal computers (terminal devices: hereinafter referred to as “PCs”) 50, 60. It is configured to be connected to the communication line 5.

  Each scanner 10, 20, 30 includes a display unit 11, a reading unit 12, a processing unit 13, an input unit 14, and a communication unit 15. In FIG. 1, only the scanner 10 is described in detail, and detailed descriptions of the scanners 20 and 30 are omitted. However, the scanners 20 and 30 have the same configuration as the scanner 10.

The display unit 11 is configured as a known display device such as a liquid crystal display, and displays an image based on an image signal transmitted from the processing unit 13.
The reading unit 12 is configured as a known reading mechanism for reading an image on a document, and a reading command is input from a user via an input unit 14 which is a user interface configured as a plurality of buttons and a touch panel. Then, it is actuated by a command from the processing unit 13.

The communication unit 15 is configured as a well-known communication interface for communicating with other devices (in particular, the PCs 50 and 60 here) connected to the communication line 5.
The processing unit 13 is configured as a well-known microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. When any instruction is input via the input unit 14 or the communication unit 15, a program stored in its own ROM. Based on the above, a predetermined process is performed. The processing unit 13 includes a nonvolatile memory (for example, a flash memory).

  Next, the PCs 50 and 60 include a communication unit 51, a control unit 52, a display 53 (display means), and an operation unit 54. In FIG. 1, only the PC 50 is described in detail and the detailed description of the PC 60 is omitted, but the PC 60 has the same configuration as the PC 50.

  Similar to the communication unit 15 of the scanner 10, 20, 30, the communication unit 51 is a well-known communication interface for communicating with other devices (here, each scanner 10, 20, 30 in particular) connected to the communication line 5. It is configured as.

The display 53 is configured as a known display device such as a liquid crystal display, and displays an image based on an image signal transmitted from the control unit 52.
The operation unit 54 is configured as a user interface such as a keyboard and a mouse, for example.

  The control unit 52 is configured as a well-known microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and when a command is input via the communication unit 51 or the operation unit 54, a program stored in its own ROM. Based on the above, a predetermined process is performed. The control unit 52 includes a nonvolatile memory (for example, an HDD (hard disk drive)).

[Process of this embodiment]
In the image reading system 1 configured as described above, the user directly instructs one of the scanners 10, 20, and 30 to perform scanning, and the scanner 10, 20, 30 generates the reading unit 12 that reads the document. A so-called push scan function of transmitting the scanned image data (hereinafter simply referred to as “scan data”) to the PCs 50 and 60 on the communication line 5 is provided.

  A specific process for realizing the push scan function will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a scanner main process performed by the processing unit 13 of the scanner 10, 20, 30.

  The scanner main process is a process that starts when, for example, the power of the scanner 10, 20, 30 is turned on. First, as shown in FIG. 2, some command is input via the input unit 14 or the communication unit 15. It is determined whether it has been done (S110, S210, S260). If no command has been received (S110, S210, and S260: NO), the processes of S110, S210, and S260 are repeated until any command is received.

  If a scan start command has been received (S110: YES), a list of PC names currently included in the PC list is displayed (S120), and the user is allowed to select a PC name that is the transmission destination of scan data. Here, as shown in the upper part of FIG. 3, the PC list is data in which the PC name and the registration time (the time when the PC registration command is received) are associated with each other and added in the process of S270 described later. Is done.

  Then, it is determined whether or not at least one PC name has been selected from this list (S130: terminal designation means). If no PC name is selected (S130: NO), the process of S130 is repeated until the PC name is selected. If at least one PC name is selected (S130: YES), the selected PC name is registered in the scan list (corresponding data) (S140: terminal storage means).

  Here, the scan list is a scan ID for specifying image data, a registration time of the image data, a PC name, and an address in the RAM in which the image data is recorded in the RAM in the processing unit 13, as shown in the middle of FIG. Is recorded in association with the data pointer. In this process, only the PC name column in the scan list is filled.

  Subsequently, the reading unit 12 is operated to scan the document, and the data pointer, scan ID, and registration time when the generated image data is recorded in the RAM in the processing unit 13 are registered in the scan list (S150: Reading storage means). That is, the columns other than the PC name in the scan list are filled. The scan ID may be a unique character string that can identify the scan data, and is automatically generated using a random number corresponding to the registration time, the scanner MAC address, and the like.

  Then, for the PCs 50 and 60 selected in the process of S130, information relating to image data such as information on the names (scanners 10, 20, and 30), scan IDs, and registration times (see the upper part of FIG. 4). (S160: Information notifying means), and then the scanner main process is repeated from the beginning. The PCs 50 and 60 that have received the scan completion notification register this notification content in the scan completion notification list and display an icon indicating that the notification has been received (see S420 and S430 in the PC main process described later).

  Next, if the scan data transmission command is received when the scanner main process is started (S110: NO and S210: YES, request reception means), the scan corresponding to the scan ID included in the scan data transmission command The data is read by referring to the scan list, and the read scan data is transmitted to the PCs 50 and 60 as the transmission source of the scan data transmission command (S220: image transmission means).

  The scan data transmission command includes scan ID information as shown in the lower part of FIG. In the process of S220, it is determined whether or not the PC name described in the scan list matches the PC name of the transmission source of the scan data transmission command. In this case, the scan data may not be transmitted.

  When this process ends (that is, when scan data is transmitted), items corresponding to the transmitted scan data are deleted from the scan list, and the scan data itself is also deleted (S230), and the scanner main process is repeated from the beginning. .

  Next, if the PC registration command is received when the scanner main process is started (S110 and S210: NO, and S260: YES), the PC name included in the PC registration command (see the middle of FIG. 4) The registration time, which is the time, is added and registered in the PC list (S270), and the scanner main process is repeated from the beginning.

  Next, a process for the scanners 10, 20, and 30 to identify the operating PCs 50 and 60 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5A is a flowchart showing scanner regular processing executed by the processing unit 13 of the scanner 10, 20, 30. FIG. 5B is a flowchart showing PC side periodic processing executed by the control unit 52 of the PC 50, 60. is there.

  The scanner periodic process is a process that starts when the power of the scanner 10, 20, 30 is turned on, for example, and as shown in FIG. Items that are more than 6 minutes old are selected and deleted (S310: first erasing means). Then, the scan list is referred to, items that have passed one day or more from the registration time are deleted from the scan list, and an expire notification is sent to the PC to delete information about the image data (S320: delete notification means) ).

At this time, the scan data corresponding to the data deleted from the scan list is also deleted. The expire notification includes a scan ID as shown in the middle part of FIG.
Thereafter, sleep is performed for a predetermined time (for example, 5 minutes) (S330). When a certain time has elapsed, the scanner periodic processing is repeated from the beginning.

Further, the PC side periodic process is, for example, a process that starts when the power of the PCs 50 and 60 is turned on. First, as shown in FIG. A PC registration command, which is data including the PC name, is transmitted to 20 and 30 (S 360 ), and then sleeps for a predetermined time (for example, 5 minutes) (S 370 ). When a certain time has elapsed, the processing of S360 and subsequent steps is performed again.

  Note that, in the scanners 10, 20, and 30 that have received a PC registration command by such PC-side periodic processing, as described above, a PC list (for example, a PC name and a registration time corresponding to the PC registration command) The process of writing the data to (recorded in the RAM) is performed (see S610 and S620 of the scanner main process).

With these PC-side periodic processing and scanner periodic processing, the PCs 50 and 60 that are activated in the scanners 10, 20, and 30 can be identified.
Next, processing when the PC 50, 60 receives any command via the communication unit 51 or the operation unit 54 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a PC main process performed by the control unit 52 of the PCs 50 and 60.

  In the PC main process, for example, the process is started when the PC is turned on. First, it is determined whether any command is received via the communication unit 51 or the operation unit 54 (S410, S460). , S560). If no command is received (S410, S460, and S560: NO), the processing of S410, S460, and S560 is repeated until any command is received.

  If the scan completion notification is received from the scanner 10, 20, 30 via the communication unit 51 (S410: YES), the scan completion notification is registered in the scan completion notification list (S420).

  As shown in the lower part of FIG. 3, the scan completion notification list is recorded with information on a scan ID and a scanner name included in the scan completion notification with registration time information that is a time when the list is registered. Is. The scan completion notification list is recorded in a memory such as a RAM or HDD of the control unit 52.

  Subsequently, an icon indicating that there is scan data (for example, a predetermined image representing the scanner and data) is displayed on the tool bar displayed on the display 53 of the PC 50 or 60 (S430: notification means), and then the scanner is periodically updated. Repeat the process from the beginning.

  Next, when the PC main process is started, if the user clicks (selects) an icon on the toolbar via the operation unit 54 (S410: NO and S460: YES), a list of scan completion notification lists Is read and displayed (S470). Then, it is determined whether or not the user has selected at least one scan data from the list via the operation unit 54 (S480). If there is only one scan data in the scan completion notification list, it is considered that this scan data has been selected, and the processes of S470 and S480 may be omitted.

  If the scan data is not selected (S480: NO), the process of S480 is repeated until the scan data is selected. If scan data is selected (S480: YES), a scan data transmission command is transmitted to the scanners 10, 20, and 30 corresponding to the scanner names described in the scan completion notification (S490: request transmission means).

  The scan data transmitted in response to this request is received, displayed on the display 53, and stored in a memory such as an HDD of the control unit 52 (S500). Subsequently, the item corresponding to the received scan data is deleted from the scan completion notification list (S510).

  Next, it is determined whether or not there is an unprocessed one (one that has not received scan data) in the scan completion notification list (S610). If there is an unprocessed item in the scan completion notification list (S610: NO), an icon indicating that there is no scan data (eg, a predetermined image representing only the scanner) is displayed on the toolbar on the display 53 (S620), and then the PC Repeat the main process from the beginning. If there is an unprocessed item in the scan completion notification list (S610: YES), an icon indicating that there is scan data on the tool bar is displayed on the display 53 (S630), and the PC main process is terminated.

  Next, if the expire notification is received when the PC main process is started (S560), the item corresponding to the scan ID included in the expire notification is deleted from the scan completion notification list (S570: second deletion) Means), and thereafter, the same processing as in S610 and thereafter is performed.

Here, data exchanged between the scanners 10, 20, and 30 and the PCs 50 and 60 in the various processes described above will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7A is a ladder chart showing data exchange between the scanners 10, 20, and 30 and the PCs 50 and 60 during standby (when the reading unit 12 is not operating), and FIG. 7B is during expiration. FIG. 8 is a ladder chart showing exchange of data between the scanners 10, 20, 30 and the PCs 50, 60. FIG. 8 shows the scanning between the scanners 10, 20, 30 and the PCs 50, 60 during scanning (when the reading unit 12 is operating). It is a ladder chart which shows exchange of data.

  At the time of standby, as shown in FIG. 7A, the PC 50, 60 periodically transmits a PC registration command to the scanner 10, 20, 30 to indicate that it is operating. 20 and 30 (S360). Each time the scanner 10, 20, 30 receives a PC registration command, it registers the PC name and registration time in the PC list (S310).

  At the time of an expire to delete the scan data stored in the scanners 10, 20, and 30, as shown in FIG. (S320). Receiving this notification, the PCs 50 and 60 delete the corresponding scan completion notification (S510).

  At the time of scanning, as shown in FIG. 8, a scan completion notification is transmitted from the scanners 10, 20, and 30 to the PCs 50 and 60 prior to the scan data (S160). Upon receiving this notification, the PCs 50 and 60 register this notification content in the scan completion notification list (S420), and display an icon indicating that the notification has been received (S430). When the PC 50, 60 receives the scan data designation (S480), it transmits a scan data transmission command to the scanner 10, 20, 30 (S490). Scan data is transmitted to the PCs 50 and 60 (S220).

[Effect of this embodiment]
In the image reading system 1 described in detail above, the scanners 10, 20, and 30 cause the user to specify the PCs 50 and 60 that are the destinations of the image data, and store the generated scan data in the RAM in the processing unit 13. To do. Then, a scan list (corresponding data) in which the PCs 50 and 60 are associated with the scan data is registered in the RAM of the processing unit 13, and information regarding the scan data is notified to the PCs 50 and 60.

  Then, the PCs 50 and 60 notify the user that the notification has been received on the condition that the notifications from the scanners 10, 20, and 30 have been received. In response to the notification, when an operation for requesting scan data is received from the user, the data request is transmitted to the scanner 10, 20, 30.

  When the scanner 10, 20, 30 receives a scan data request from the PCs 50, 60, the scanner 10, 20, 30 transmits the scan data stored in the RAM in the processing unit 13 to the PCs 50, 60.

  That is, in the image reading system 1 of the present invention, scan data is not transmitted to the PCs 50 and 60 until the scanners 10, 20, and 30 receive data requests based on operations on the PCs 50 and 60. Therefore, according to such scanners 10, 20, and 30, it is possible to prevent the read image from being seen by a third party and information leaking.

  Further, in the image reading system 1, the control unit 52 of the PCs 50 and 60 displays a notification image (a list of icons and scan data) indicating that the notification has been received on the display 53 on the condition that the notification has been received. When a notification image is selected by the user on the screen 53, a data request is transmitted to the scanner 10, 20, 30 on the assumption that the user has requested an operation for requesting scan data.

  According to such an image reading system 1, the user can acquire scan data from the scanners 10, 20, and 30 only by selecting a notification image on the PCs 50 and 60.

  In the image reading system 1, the scanners 10, 20, and 30 erase the scan data when a predetermined time elapses after the scan data is generated, and the PCs 50 and 60 corresponding to the erased scan data. An erasure notification of information regarding the scan data to be erased is performed.

  Further, the PC 50, 60 stores information related to the scan data in the RAM of the control unit 52. When the PC 50, 60 receives the deletion notification of the information related to the scan data to be deleted from the scanner 10, 20, 30, the information related to the scan data Delete the information related to the scan data that received the erase notification. Further, the control unit 52 of the PC 50 or 60 notifies the user that there is scan data on condition that information on at least one scan data is recorded.

  According to such an image reading system 1, it is possible to prevent the scan data from staying in the scanner 10, 20, 30 indefinitely. Further, when the scanner 10, 20, 30 erases the scan data, the information regarding the scan data on the PC 50, 60 side can also be deleted. At this time, if at least one piece of information regarding the scan data remains in the PCs 50 and 60, notification that there is scan data can be implemented.

The embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can take various forms as long as it belongs to the technical scope of the present invention.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the control unit 52 of the PCs 50 and 60 has the same notification (that is, an icon indicating that there is scan data) regardless of the number of times (the number of scan data) that the scan data is received. Display), but may be as follows. That is, the control unit 52 displays the same number of notification images as the number of times of notification on the display 53 in association with the scan IDs so that the user can select each notification image. A request for data including a scan ID corresponding to the selected notification image is transmitted to the scanner 10, 20, 30. Even if it does in this way, the effect similar to the said embodiment is acquired.

  In addition, the scanners 10, 20, and 30 of the above embodiments may be configured as a multi-function machine having a printer function, a facsimile function, and the like.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image reading system 1. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows a scanner main process. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a PC list, a scan list, and a scan completion notification list. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a scan completion notification, an escape notification, a PC registration command, and a scan data transmission command. It is a flowchart (a) which shows a scanner regular process, and a flowchart (b) which shows PC side regular process. It is a flowchart which shows PC main processing. They are a ladder chart (a) showing exchange of data during standby (when the reading unit 12 is not operating), and a ladder chart (b) showing exchange of data during expiration. It is a ladder chart showing exchange of data at the time of scanning (when reading part 12 is operating).

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image reading system, 5 ... Communication line, 10, 20, 30 ... Scanner, 11 ... Display part, 12 ... Reading part, 13 ... Processing part, 14 ... Input part, 15 ... Communication part, 50, 60 ... PC, 51 ... Communication unit, 52 ... Control unit, 53 ... Display, 54 ... Operation unit.

Claims (4)

An image reading system having an image reading device that reads an image based on an instruction received directly from a user, generates image data based on the read image, and a terminal device that displays an image based on the image data generated by the image reading device Because
The image reading device includes:
Reading storage means for storing the generated image data in the image recording means;
Terminal designation means for causing the user to designate a designated terminal device that is a terminal device to which the image data is to be sent;
Terminal storage means for storing correspondence data in which the designated terminal device is associated with the image data in correspondence recording means;
Information notifying means for notifying the designated terminal device of first information relating to image data;
Request accepting means for accepting a request for image data from the designated terminal device;
On the condition that a request for image data has been received by the request receiving means, image data stored in the image recording means, and a designated terminal device that has received the request by the request receiving means is associated with the corresponding data. Image transmitting means for transmitting the received image data to the designated terminal device;
With
The terminal device
The user is notified by displaying the second information not included in the first information notified by the information notification means on the display means capable of displaying an image on condition that the notification by the information notification means is received. Notification means for
A request transmission unit configured to transmit a data request to the image reading device when the second information is operated on the display unit by a user in response to the notification by the notification unit;
An image reading system comprising: The image reading system according to claim 1 ,
The display means of the terminal device includes a first icon for notifying the user that image data exists in the image recording means, and a first icon for notifying the user that image data does not exist in the image recording means. 2 icons can be displayed,
The notification unit displays the first icon as the second information instead of the second icon when the notification is received by the information notification unit . The image reading system according to claim 1 or 2,
The image reading device includes:
First erasing means for erasing image data stored in the image recording means;
An erasure notification means for performing erasure notification of information relating to the image data to be erased to a designated terminal device corresponding to the image data erased by the first erasure means;
With
The terminal device
Information storage means for storing information on the image data notified by the information notification means of the image reading device in the information recording means;
A second erasing unit for erasing the information about the image data that has received the erasure notification from the information about the image data recorded in the information recording unit upon receiving the erasure notification of the information about the image data to be erased from the image reading device; With
The image reading system, wherein the notification means notifies the user on condition that information on at least one image data is recorded in the information recording means.   The image reading system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
  A list display control means for displaying a list of image data stored in the image recording means on a display means;
  When a plurality of image data are stored in the image recording unit, the request transmission unit sends a data request for the image data selected by the user from the list displayed on the display unit to the image reading device. When the image recording unit stores only one image data, the image reading device sends a data request for the image data stored in the image recording unit without displaying the list. Sending to
  An image reading system characterized by the above.